Clonazepam for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal User Reviews (Page 2)

• Ham...
• February 29, 2020

"I was put on 0.5mg clonazepam in the hospital 4 years ago. I didn't research them and just took them. They made me feel good, so I doubled the dose to twice a day. I now realize they are a dangerous, addictive drug and want to be off them as soon as possible. I stopped taking them, and the next day I had bad paranoia. Then in the night, my heart was beating fast, so I took a tablet. The next day, I went back on them but cut down one tablet by half to 0.25mg. I was fine for 2 weeks, then for 3 days I could feel my blood surging through my veins and palpitations. I got a really bad headache, which lasted on and off all day. But on the fourth day, things were better. I decided to give my heart a week's rest, then I will taper down by a quarter and try that."

• Ale...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 11, 2019

"I’ve been taking Xanax for a couple of years now. Up to 3 (2mg) a day. I experienced 3 seizures so far after not having the medicine for just a day or 2. DO NOT COLD TURKEY OFF XANAX OR KLONOPINS OR ANY BENZO. You will more than likely go through seizures, mini twitches, and it’s not pleasant at all. It’s very scary too. I get scared and am afraid one of these seizures may be my last. So please, if I can help anyone just by reading this, I’m happy. I need to taper off slowly and I intend to do so. I don’t want to live waking up every day having to take something."

• Pen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 30, 2020

"I've been on Klonopin for a long time, probably five years. Not a big dose, just 0.5 three times a day, then twice a day. Then my husband left me, and my world fell apart, panic attacks were so bad I couldn't leave the house. Now I'm back on Klonopin and pain meds for back problems. The doctor would not refill the Klonopin till today, so sick as I had to wait three hours till the pharmacy opens. I'm old-70 plus years-I can't take this pain, sweating, suffering, can't eat or sleep. It is not worth it... beware of these drugs."

• Man...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2019

"Do not use benzodiazepines, please. My whole life has been turned upside down. I have been on clonazepam for a year after a paradoxical reaction to diazepam. I am currently weaning off, and it is so hard. My mind has not been the same since I have taken these awful drugs. They should only be used for certain conditions. Anxiety isn't one of them. Please do your research and listen to people like me."

• Don...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 13, 2019

"Been on clonazepam for at least 12 years. I have quit cold turkey and ended up in psychosis. This drug is a nightmare and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I have vast experience with addicting substances, and this is by far the worst. Recently went to my other doctor and went through different approaches of tapering. The one that stuck with me was using two 100ml bottles and dissolving a pill in one, then you can use a child's ml medication dropper to help reduce your dosage accurately. Even removing 5% from your day will send you into at least five days of painful, skin-crawling withdrawal. But at least it's a way to control it accurately. Breaking a pill into fours can be a 10% difference. I hope this helps. I'm down to 0.25 mg twice a day. And feel terrible. But it's temporary. I hope. Good luck to anyone trying to get off of this stuff. It's worse than opiates, nicotine, alcohol, and anything else. I mean that. STAY AWAY!!"

• Zeb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 29, 2020

"I have been on clonazepam 2 mg for about 12 years now. It was first prescribed to me for anxiety and sleep help. I've run out a total of 3 times in that 12-year span. It was after taking it for about a year. It was absolutely horrible. NEVER felt that bad from anything in my life. I've had over 10 serious spinal surgeries and also take prescribed morphine now for the pain. It started with hydrocodone, then oxycodone, then methadone (which got up to a dose of 350 mg daily). I was finally switched to the morphine. I've been through both withdrawals... narcotic and benzodiazepine. The clonazepam withdrawal was MUCH WORSE than any narcotic withdrawals. The opioid withdrawal was intense for 3 days, then slowly got better. After 2 weeks, I felt better. Now the clonazepam withdrawal lasted at least 2 months. It was also much worse for me than the opioids. It is horrible, and after much study, I found that the suicide rate was almost 3 times more from benzo withdrawal than from opioid withdrawal."

• Nan...
• August 1, 2019

"I was put on 1 mg Klonopin TID for 17 years. For 10 of those years, I was in tolerance withdrawal and had no idea what was wrong with me. I went off this medication too fast and still suffer 2 years later with internal vibrating and burning nerve pain that is constant. At first cessation, I experienced hallucinations and the feeling of being dropped in an elevator very fast, with the constant sensation of being on a boat. The boat feeling still occurs 2 years later but is less frequent than a year ago. I have cognitive and memory issues, and I experience crushing bone pain in my legs and feet, still 2 years later. I lost my ability to work, lost my home, and am now very dependent on my family for help, living with my brother in another state. This has derailed my life! This medication is dangerous, and anxiety should be addressed with nutrition, meditation, and exercise, NOT PILLS for a quick fix. Take these stories seriously and do your research!"

• Dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 25, 2019

"So I have made two previous posts about reducing my dose of clonazepam and wanted to keep you updated. I've been down to 1/4 of .5 mg, which is .125, for about 2 months now. I'm at 7 days in a row without taking any. My PCP prescribed a patch of clonidine .1 mg to help with withdrawal symptoms. I haven't felt like I needed it yet, but it's good to know there is something to help if I need it. I still get anxiety, muscle cramps, dizziness. Exercise, hydration, and meditation have been helping me. I will push myself to be off of meds for a longer period of time, hoping to be off completely by the end of January. Will update again when I'm free of it. Good luck, everyone. Perhaps a detox facility will work for some who want off ASAP but need to be safe from seizures."

• Ren...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 16, 2020

"Been on clonazepam for 20 months this time. Dose is .5 once daily. Started to titrate my dose down early August. Went down to .25 and was easy. Had 4th day symptoms but minimal. November had panic attacks. Decided to cut again, as this indicated inter-dose withdrawal and definitely didn’t want to go back up. In early December, went down to .17. Hard to cut that pill, so dose is iffy. Been on this until now, added gabapentin to manage symptoms. Not perfect but haven’t increased dose. Most nights, sleep with the gabapentin. Starting to feel inter-dose withdrawal again, so plan further titration in about a week to .125. This sounds counterintuitive, I know. But, dragging it out too long isn’t great either. Go slow. This is slow. But, important to go slow and manage symptoms. I resisted adding gabapentin, but it’s helpful and easier to get off later. Once I get to .125, I’ll wait another month. This is doable and I look forward to being free."

• Dou...
• July 20, 2020

"I've been on clonazepam for 7 years. Recently, I started feeling hazy, and my brain hurt. In fact, it still does. I thought it was another medication causing me all these issues, but after successfully withdrawing from that medication, my symptoms stayed on board. Now I am working with my doctor to wean off clonazepam. I was prescribed a mood stabilizer, however, it was making things worse. Fortunately, I did not take that medication for very long. I want to feel better, and I am deeply disturbed that my doctor would keep me on a medication meant for short-term use. I am nervous about withdrawal, but I am so ready to be myself again."

• Tom...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 1, 2019

"Well, started with 2 mg Xanax for my extreme panic attacks and went over to clonazepam 2 mg when I had to choose between driver license or Xanax. So now, 10 years later, I'm struggling with dependence and am on 14 mg clonazepam daily minimum. Doctor doesn't know I'm on such a heavy dosage because I need my driver license when I'm at work. So now I am forced to be a criminal and buy these pills in bulk because the doctors started me on these medications. Seriously, I don't know what to do anymore. I'm going downhill fast, and tapering off these dosages is almost impossible because the panic attacks I had before are 100 times worse now. Have woken up at times in the hospital because of seizures related to tapering. Believe me when I say this, use it short term if you HAVE to. Long term has destroyed me, my economy, and my life."

• ano...
• November 25, 2016

"Benzos will burn your nervous system and neural circuits. Don't be stupid, this drug is just a mask to the problem. Once you get off it, if you have a panic disorder, your panic attacks will explode during the withdrawal. If you find hope in this drug, I seriously recommend you rethink your life decisions before taking it any further. I had a bad experience, it took only one benzo for me to realize this isn't the cure. To those people suffering panic attacks, you have to conquer it naturally and with SSRI meds. I wouldn't take the time to come here and write this if I didn't want to help anyone. Benzos are like any other illicit drug, they blind you and make you think you just took five steps forward, when you come off it you are 100 steps back. GL."

• JJa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 13, 2019

"Been on this for over 10 years and was at 2 mg. There was no reason that I should have been taking it, and I realize now that I was experiencing tolerance withdrawal for many years. Do your research! I wish I had. Took me 3 months to taper off from 2 mg to 0.5 mg. Symptoms were bad headaches, tight jaw, diarrhea, and general discomfort. I'm also taking 1 mg Lexapro during taper and able to live and work normally. Still have to get off the 0.5 mg, but I feel so much better! No bad aftereffects so far."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 6, 2020

"In 2015, I fell into a deep depression after my grandmother passed away. I decided to seek help. I was not sleeping at night. When I expressed myself to the doctor I had found, I was prescribed this disgusting medication in which I should have done my research like I normally would do. I started at 2 mg. It helped at first, but this medication has been the worst thing ever! I’m now tapering off slowly after finding a new doctor that actually listens. I am now taking 0.5 mg. The withdrawal symptoms if you go cold turkey are horrible. Please do not go cold turkey, seek professional help! And if you were given this medication and not yet taken it, RUN as some stated! It will ruin you! These doctors that prescribe this should lose their license. It’s a disgusting medication! Any benzodiazepines are!"

• Tim...
• October 18, 2016

"Stay away from this drug!!!!! Everyone ranking this at a '10' now will regret it later!!!! Please avoid all benzos!! Especially this one!!! It wears off eventually, and you'll have to keep going up in milligrams, and the next thing you know, tolerance withdrawal sets in!! You'll have no choice but to stop taking it, and the withdrawal symptoms are hell on earth if not tapered off slooooooooooooooowly. And even done that way isn't a walk in the park. Again, please avoid all benzos. Especially this one!!!! Google the withdrawal facts and people's stories on this pill....."

• Log...
• October 6, 2019

"I take clonazepam on a daily basis for some of my anxiety-related issues. TRUE, it is addictive and prone to abuse. My dose is similar to some others here (0.5 mg 3 times daily), however, I usually manage with two doses of 0.5 mg instead. Of course, the withdrawal is hard, but if done properly, it can be done! The best way off the drug is a SLOW taper with other supports such as psychotherapy and group therapy. Even after the taper, you will most likely still feel anxiety at times and at various levels. I know this because I've been through it and will be doing it again in a week, hoping my symptoms are at least tolerable."

• Eli...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 3, 2019

"First, let me say anxiety and panic disorder have just about crippled me. I have no energy, I can't go to the store or leave the house at the worst times. My dilemma is I can't find a doctor to prescribe clonazepam. When I had them, I could function and have conversations with people that ordinarily I couldn't have. But when I can't get them, I am in seclusion. I'm disabled and have been this way for a long time."

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2020

"I have been off and on this medication clonazepam multiple times, no withdrawals so far. I have multiple, if not close to all, anxiety disorders. I've also been on multiple SSRIs, SNRIs, atypical antipsychotics, and hypnotics. I have been on Ativan 2 mg three times daily, Valium I can't remember the amount. Now I rely on 1 mg clonazepam before bed while I search for the appropriate medication that will help me in the long term (Prozac now). I might have to go through withdrawals, but truly, if this medication leaves you worse off than when you started it, it probably wasn't for you. For some people, this is a godsend when you can't live or even remember where you are in the moment, for others, it's a nightmare. Everyone is different, don't let the comments scare you. Find a doc/psych that will understand you the best they can. Don't ever give up and search for the solution that suits you best. Good luck."

• Con...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 6, 2022

"Until 30 days ago, I took 1 mg twice daily for decades, after a long-forgotten provider prescribed it for generalized anxiety disorder. I was told clonazepam was a safer alternative to similar meds because 'it was slow acting.' I didn't really know what that meant, but it sounded good, there were no cautions given to me, and the doctor wouldn't prescribe anything harmful, right? Also, BOOM! It helped! I finally felt free from anxiety that plagued me all my life! I didn't know in the following decades, I'd be cluelessly numb to the world around me and perplexed as my ability to function deteriorated. Then, 5 months ago: screeching halt. I had intense panic all day, every day. I started to pop an extra pill per day and ran out. A new prescriber scurried to prescribe every med on the shelf to ease withdrawal, but several weeks after the hellish acute stage, I am one hot mess. I feel sick. I am in pain. My muscles twitch and spasm. I can't walk straight, think straight, or talk right. Shame."

• Jes...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 23, 2019

"I've been on it for five years. Started with Ativan, then went to Klonopin. The highest I've been is 1.5 mgs with more if needed for panic and anxiety attacks. I'm currently weaning from 1.25 to 1 mg a day. On day 3, having anxiety, heart palpitations, and some wiredness in my head. I want off this so bad, I hate being dependent on a pill I gotta carry with me everywhere I go. I think my next reduction in a few weeks will be half of a half, might make it less noticeable. I don't recommend anyone taking this. I was put on benzos without being told how addictive they are. I experience tolerance withdrawal as well. Good luck to everyone trying to get off."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 28, 2019

"I was misprescribed clonazepam for depression by what I realize now was an incompetent psychiatrist. I was too depressed to do any research to find out that it is only to be taken for 2-4 weeks, and even that is too long. I was prescribed it for 18 months, at which time a psychologist told me to quit, which she had no business doing as she was not even an MD. Another incompetent. Not knowing any better, I tapered for 3 weeks (like I would have for an antidepressant) and ended up in severe withdrawal. I should've taken 1-2 years to taper in that it changes your brain function; it's like taking a poison. I took the last portion of the 2 mg dose I was prescribed in August 2014. Nearly 4.5 years later, I am functional, but I am not back to normal. Please do not take any benzo drug except for an occasional panic attack or a few days in succession. They have a place, but long-term use is definitely not their place."

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2015

"I was on Klonopin for 12 years and prior to that, Xanax for 13. For a total of 25 years on benzodiazepines. I was forced to stop taking Klonopin abruptly after 25 years. I had to change from an excellent health plan to Medi-Cal, government-funded healthcare. The county in which I live in California does not believe in the use of benzodiazepines for anything! Although it was not my choice to come off, this did not matter to the doctors who were 'taking care' of me. There was tapering of cutting down. I went from 3 mg a day to 0. I started having derealization and depersonalization from the onset at 22 hours without the medication. This was terrifying! I have no idea what this felt like. I checked myself into a county psych ER, which was the worst thing."

• Ann...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 22, 2019

"I've been on clonazepam 0.75 mg per day for 4 years for my supposed epilepsy, with horrible side effects: memory loss, sleep issues, weight changes, irritability. Now another doctor has found out that there are no indications of epilepsy, and I'm finally going on a tapering plan. It will take me up to 1 year to finally be clear of this awful drug, and I just can't stand it. Removed the first 1/4 off one of the doses the other day - I'm scared of the side effects, but I so want to be free of this nightmare."

• eva...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 3, 2017

"I've been on 2 mg of clonazepam daily for over a year for REM sleep disorder. Lately, both my wife and I have noticed I was becoming withdrawn, irritable, and impatient. I cut my dosage in half (on my own initiative) eleven days ago and began taking melatonin with the 1 mg of clonazepam. After reading the horror stories of withdrawal, I visited my sleep physician two days later. He agreed with my decision to taper off clonazepam and defined the 2 mg as a fairly low dose compared to what many take for anxiety issues. He recommended I continue 1 mg clonazepam and 4 mg of melatonin. During the 11 days, I have had some minor discomfort while feeling much better emotionally. I will follow up in 30 days to taper further."

• Dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 1, 2019

"So my withdrawal symptoms are horrible. I know everyone is different, as I am very sensitive to everything. I have blurred vision, vertigo, confusion, anxiety, labored breathing, and my temples feel like they are bulging out. I'm weaning myself off, and I've been fine up to this point. I think I'm going too fast. Weaning slowly is the way to go to lessen the symptoms. I've also noticed it triggering my bipolar, so be sure to talk to your doctor before weaning off or as you wean off. Good luck, everyone."